2011-1-23 Setting Differences Aside

Eric Lemonholm

January 23, 2011

Epiphany 3A

Isaiah 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23

For many people, the search, the journey, is more important than the destination.  I resonate with that.

Henry Nouwen writes:

He who thinks that he is finished is finished. How true. Those who think that they have arrived, have lost their way. Those who think they have reached their goal, have missed it. Those who think they are saints, are demons.[ii]

It is very true of our lives.  I am uncomfortable with people who are too sure that they have arrived, who think they know it all, who are done learning and growing.

I often meet people from different churches.  Most of the time, we have an instant connection.

Whether they are Lutheran, Methodist, Catholic, or Baptist, we know that we have the same Lord.  We are on the same journey.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sometimes, however, I meet someone who has, so they tell me, found the “perfect church.”  They are so sure that their denomination, their little group of churches, is the only true church, and everyone else – including you and me – is going to hell in a hand basket.

It is better to be a seeker, to be on a journey for truth, wisdom, and love, than to have reached a destination like that.

There is nothing wrong with being a seeker, being on a life journey, rather than being stuck in the same place in life.

But we all know people who are searching and never seem to find much of anything.

Gordon Atkinson was the pastor of Covenant Baptist Church in San Antonio and an author.  He writes, “I keep getting e-mails from people who say, ‘Your church sounds nice. I wish I could find one like that.’ ” So Atkinson responds:

“Let me guess. You’re looking for a cool church, filled with authentic Christians who aren’t judgmental but also have convictions, and are hip and classic in just the right mixture.

A church where people forgive each other, love children, and worship in meaningful ways.

A church with a swingin’ preacher who makes the Bible come alive, tells great stories, is a wonderful inspiration—and plays, too.

A church that isn’t liberal or conservative, but seems to transcend weak[-ass] categories like those.

A church where the hunger for truth is honored, and people can disagree but still love each other and share a plate of tacos.

That’s what you’re looking for? I got ya. I understand. Here are some tips to help you in your search:

l You won’t find that church.

l Surely I don’t need to say anything about churches that have billboards and commercials featuring preachers with $200 haircuts.

l Let’s talk about my first point again. As I said, you won’t find the church you’re looking for. Go ahead and grieve. You’ll have to make do with a silly bunch of dreamers and children, prone to mistakes, blunders, and misjudgments.”[iii]

That’s kind of like the old saying, If you found the perfect church and joined it, it would no longer be perfect.

We are seekers on a journey, but we are not alone.  We are companions, a fellowship, journeying together.

And, we are not perfect.

We are all sinners.

But there is something more, something deeper, than our search, our journey.

As William Wilimon notes,[iv] the Bible is not so much about our search for God, as it is about God’s search, God’s journey, to us.

Think about the Christmas story.  The Wise Ones, the Magi, followed the star to find Jesus.

The shepherds left the fields to find Jesus.

The aged prophets Simeon and Anna were “looking forward to the consolation of Israel,” and rejoiced when they saw the baby Jesus in the Temple.

But the Christmas story is essentially the story of God’s journey to us, the Word becoming flesh and living among us.

We hear in God’s word that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.

That is the good news in a nutshell.  God with us.

Not above us or against us, but with us, for us.

That is the good news on this cold, snowy day.

That is the light shining in the land of deep darkness.

Jesus the Son of God came and shouted, “The kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news.”

And what did Jesus do?

He showed his people that God’s kingdom was indeed near: he healed people in their bodies and souls.  He shared the good news of God’s love and forgiveness.

God’s salvation, God’s healing of our hearts, had come to earth.

Jesus, God with us, brings light to the darkness of our lives, healing to the wounds of our souls.

Yes, we are on a journey, yes we are seekers.

St. Augustine once prayed, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

We have restless hearts, searching for our hearts’ home.

The good news is that we are not alone in our journey.  Jesus walks with us, the light of God shining into the darkness ahead of us, guiding us on our journey home.

Paul, the follower of Jesus, said, “…the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Jesus gave himself for us, sacrificed himself for us on the cross.  Immanuel, God with us, was crucified for us.

And God raised him from the dead.

The power of God was revealed in weakness, on the cross.  It sounds crazy, foolish.  But it is true.

That is our source of strength for the journey of life.  It is not that we have all the answers.  It is not that we have figured it all out.

But we have faith in the God who is with us and for us, the God who has sought us out.

We have hope that our journey will end in the rest and refreshment of God’s presence.

We have love for our fellow travelers—and we invite them along on the journey to God.

We journey together on this great adventure of faith.

We are united, not because we think alike, grew up in similar times and places, or share the same political views.

No, we are united because we have been called by the same Lord.

• Called to share the same good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

We are called to be “fishers of people, not keepers of the aquarium.”[v]

• Called to reach out beyond the walls of the church building with the love of God in Christ.

As this church moves forward without me here, it is necessary to keep Paul’s commandment in mind:

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.  For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.  What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”  Has Christ been divided?  Was Paul crucified for you?  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

This is not my church.

This is not your church.

First and foremost, this is Jesus Christ’s church.

And, this is our church only insofar as we are united in the same mind and the same purpose of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.

It’s not easy.  Paul’s writings show us that churches have been torn apart by conflict since the beginning.

Dividing into cliques is part of our sinful human nature.

Decide this day, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to set aside your differences and be united as brothers and sisters in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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[ii] Ibid., p. 20, quoting from Henri Nouwen, The Genessee Diary, New York: Doubleday, 1980.

[iii] Christian Century, 11/16/04.

[iv] Pulpit Resource, 1/23/05, p. 18.

[v] Ann Newgard-Larson made this point in text study, 1/18/2011.